Good people , not to mention good tippers , do exist . Christina Summitt knows that for sure now after what happened Saturday night .

The paw-print tattoo on Summitt 's wrist often leads to conversations with strangers about her love of animals ; she 's a volunteer with a pit bull rescue group and spends lots of time finding homes for animals of all kinds .

While tending bar at the Holiday Inn in Clinton , New Jersey , Summitt got to chatting with a friendly couple before the night got busy . The man asked her if she had dogs of her own ; she confided that her `` baby , '' a Great Dane-black Labrador mix named Tucker , was at the veterinary hospital after having emergency surgery hours earlier after he swallowed a hard plastic ball . She was worried about him .

The man said something about surgery being expensive . She confided the estimate was around $ 2,700 , but she would do whatever she had to do for the dog , whom she adopted in 2011 . Summitt , 37 , works three jobs -- full-time as a chef at the hotel , Saturdays as a bartender , and as a food prep worker two days a week at a deli in her town . Her husband works full-time and Summitt has three stepchildren .

The couple ordered drinks and dinner at the bar . When it was time to close out their $ 80 tab , the man filled out the receipt with a tip -- for $ 1,000 .

Summitt said she started shaking and crying . She showed the bill to her sister , who tends bar with her , to make sure she was seeing three zeros after the 1 .

`` I went back over and said ` Sir , I can not accept this , what is this for , why would you do this ? ' '' she said . He told her to put it toward Tucker 's medical costs .

`` I just stood there in shock . I walked around and hugged this couple . They said , ` We 'll be praying for Tucker . ' ''

Hotel manager Michelle Satanik told CNN she followed up with her comptroller and also tracked down the customer this week to verify that the gesture was legitimate . CNN has attempted to contact the generous tipper through Summitt , who kept his name anonymous for his privacy .

`` Apparently this man does this quite frequently . Just a really nice guy and humanitarian , '' Satanik said . `` I have never ever seen a $ 1,000 tip like that . ''

Summitt shared the story on Facebook and CNN iReport with a photo of the credit card slip and a picture of Tucker being held by her 16-year-old stepson before they left the dog at the hospital for surgery . A Facebook page she follows called `` Why Bartenders and Servers Hate People '' reposted the story on Easter Sunday with this caption : `` This is a place for us to vent but every so often , especially on holidays , we have to be thankful for the amazing customers that are out there . ''

Summitt says she 's since gotten messages of support from all over the world .

`` I would also love nothing more than to publicly thank this couple in front of the world . I 've never seen a random act give so many people so much hope , '' she wrote .

Tucker is recovering at home .

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A customer left Christina Summitt a $ 1,000 tip

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He told her to put it toward her dog 's surgery

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`` Good people do exist , '' Summitt said